Hybridizer James Ennenga 1923-2013

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

From a portion published in Omaha World-Herald on August 4, 2013----

"Ennenga, James Lewis Age 90 James Lewis Ennenga, P.E., of Knoxville, TN, formerly of Omaha, NE, died peacefully at home on August 2, 2013, with his family at his side. Born on April 4, 1923 in Lennox, SD, to Henry and Nettie (Loomer) Ennenga, he grew up in Rapid City, SD. Mr. Ennenga graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines in Civil Engineering, and received his Master's Degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946, and was part of the liberation of the Philippine Islands. He was married with love to Mary Ruth Sherrell on June 20, 1948 in Gary, IN, and Jim and Ruth raised their 5 daughters in Omaha. Mr. Ennenga had a long career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, and after retiring in 1978, taught Construction Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, retiring as an Associate Professor, Emeritus in 1988.

After his retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Ennenga moved to Knoxville, TN, where they were members of Bethel United Methodist Church, where he served as lay leader. Mr. Ennenga enjoyed traveling back to cheer the Nebraska Corn-huskers football team and the UNO hockey teams. Jim Ennenga was one of those rare individuals who pack more interests and living into life than most of us. He was a Master Mason for 70 years, and a member of both Rapid City Lodge #20 and Powell, TN Lodge #582. He was a rock hound, lapidarian, and a master silver and gold smith, who enjoyed presenting his wife and daughters with stunning and original pieces of jewelry. An Eagle Scout, Mr. Ennenga supported Scouting all his life, and guided many young men to become Eagle Scouts. He was an avid gardener, and enjoyed growing and hybridizing irises, including "Ruthie Girl", named for his wife; "Heather Ann", "Erin Anne", "Nettie Leonetti", and his most recent introduction, "Oxmoor Hills", a dark purple iris that blooms 3 to 4 times each year. Ennenga was an Iris Judge and member of the Omaha and Eastern Tennessee Iris Societies. He also was an accomplished vintner, and his family and friends enjoyed his wines and his extraordinary champagnes. One of his favorite hobbies, indeed avocations, was collecting apple parers and he was well known as "Apple Jim" to his Apple Parer Enthusiasts (APES) buddies. He enjoyed hunting, fly fishing, tying flies, and camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota his entire life. He was a Charter member of the Eastern Nebraska Gun Club, and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and also a fine gunsmith who was particularly good at gun checkering. He kept bees for more than 30 years in Omaha, and no other honey could match the taste of the fine clover honeys his bees produced over the years. He also was a ham radio operator (call sign KOGOC) and welder. In his later years, he developed an expertise in fountain pen repair, and especially enjoyed the fine Estebrook fountain pens." -